Better Days Await Those In Rivers, OsunAS Nigeria joined the world to celebrate the World Teacher's Day yesterday, Anambra State Branch of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), have lamented gloomy conditions of service for teachers in the state.They wondered why teachers should always be held responsible for the low performance and bad results received by pupils and students in school leaving examinations in the state.Osun State Government, however, announced approval for the recruitment of about 6,000 teachers into the state public primary and secondary schools.The state governor,Rauf Aregbesola, who made the announcement, said that his administration appreciates the indispensable role teachers play in the development of the country, noting that the government would continue to take measures that would enhance quality and standard in the educational system.Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, on his part said that the policy of his administration to re-certify teachers in government owned schools will continue.Anambra State NUT Chairman, Com. Ifeanyi Ofodile,decried government delay in the implementation of promotion and arrears benefits from 2009-2011 to teachers in primary schools in the state as well as non- implementation of approved N20 per pupil running cost to head teachers.Ofodile also criticised the situation where some of his colleagues were stagnated in one salary grade level, especially those with HND.According to him many had acquired additional educational qualifications like Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), Technical Teachers Certificate (TTC) etc, as required by the teachers registration council to attain graduate cadre but without the corresponding progression.Ofodile said: 'Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo and Abia states allow these categories of teachers to progress in promotion except Anambra which suddenly stopped further progression of this cadre in 2002.'More worrisome is the exclusion of teachers at Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) and local government education areas from their rightful share of 171/2 per cent teachers enchanted allowance as was agreed by the Nigeria Governors forum.'Aregbesola,who was represented by his Deputy, Titi Laoye-Tomori, noted that his administration was aware of the importance of the teachers in nation's building .He stated that the planned recruitment of about 6,000 teachers would help in reducing unemployment and strengthening the teaching aging workforce in the state.Gov.Amaechi said it was shocking to observe that most teachers in government-owned schools could not spell correctly, wondering the quality of knowledge they would impact on their students.The governor, however, promised that from 2013, incentives would be given to teachers to encourage and boost their teaching moral.Amaechi said: 'I visited Community Secondary School, Rumuokwurusi, where I met some teachers who could not spell words correctly. The policy of my administration is that all teachers must be re-certified of their qualifications'.'What you studied in 1979 is what you are teaching students in 2012. Are you being fair' That is why we said go and write the qualification examination. With this new method, we will be able to access you if the NCE is still current, so that while the students are reading, the teachers are also reading.
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